Wire-stretcher.



F. GIBSON.

I WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 1912.

Attorneys cOLuMmA PLANOGRAPH co.. WAS NNNNNNNNNN c.

srArns PATENT orrron FOREST G'IBsoN; OF YELK; VI'PLGI'NIA.

wIRE-sT'RErcHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filedApril 25, 1:912. Serial No. 693,278.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the co-mbination andarrangement of parts and inthe details of constructlon herema'fter de-'scribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of invention herein disclosed 03.11'b61112td6W1tl1- in thescope of what is claimed Without de= partingfrom the spirit of theinvent-ion.

In the drawings :Figure 1 shows the invention in perspective; Fig. 2 isa transverse section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 4; Fig.

3 is a perspective of a portion ofthe actu-- ating lever; Fig. 4 is aside elevation of the structure shown in Fig.3; Fig. 5is an elevation ofone pawl; Fig. 6 is a fragmental elevation of a portion of'the bodymember; and Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77 of Fig. 4.

The wire stretcher herein disclosed comprises a body member 1 havingspaced-arms- 2 carrying a shaft 3 on which is journaled a ratchet wheel4 carrying an auxiliary chain wheel 5 adapted to engage a chain 6,connected to a wire clamp 39. One of the arms 2 is provided with anextension 7 having a key-hole slot 8 adapted to hold the chain 9. Thearms 2 are provided with upstanding ears 10 having recesses 11 in theiradjacent faces which open at their ends toward the ratchet wheel 4.

The invention further includes a lever 12 including a fixed arm 14 and amovable arm 15 held in place by a pivot element 16. The fixed arm 14 isprovided with a bearing stud 17 on its outer face, the inner face of thearm 14 carrying a bearing head 18. The inner face of the arm 15 isprovided with a bearing head 19, the heads 18 and 19 beingeccentricallydisposed with respect to each other. There is a recess 20 in the head19, the recess'being formed at its inner end with a shoulder 21-:through which there is an opening. A hearing pin 22 extends through thearm: 1-5'and enters the recess 20, the bearing pin 22 havin'ga reducedextension- 23 which registers in the recess 24 formed: in the inner faceof the head 18;

The bearingf'pin 22, its extension 23 and the recesses 1 1 are coaxial,in: order to allow the lever 12 to swing; Further,-in order to allow thepawls 26 and 29 to operate they must be eccentricnot only'to each other,but,

as well: tothe' axis defined by the parts 22, 23 and 11.This'construction' is necessary in order that'o'ne pawl may not actmerely as a holding pawl.

With regard to the pivotal connectionbetween the parts 15 and 16 it maybe Patented'N ov.2-5', 1913.

stated that there is no operative pivotal movement' of the part 15' onthe part 16, owing to the presence of the pin- 22 and its extension 23.The: element 16 renders the arm 15 removablegas is necessary, in orderthatthedevice may be assembled, and the nature of theconnection between15- and 12 is such that there would be a pivotal movement of 15 M16; butfor thepresence of the pin22-23t The" bearing: stud 17 and the pin 22'are engaged pivotally in the open ended recesses' 1 1 of the ears-=10which are formed upon the arms 2 of the body member 1.

The bearing. head 18; of the arm 14 sup .ports pawl 26 provided with anextension 27 having an opening 28. A pawl 29 is mounted on the head 19of the arm 15, the pawl 29 having in the inner face a recess 30. Uponits outer face the pawl 29 is fashioned with a cam 31 adapted toco-iiperate with the jaw 25 formed upon the free end of the arm 15.

The chain 9 is assembled with a fixed support of any sort, and if areciprocatory motion be imparted to the lever 12, the pawls 26 and 29will engage alternately with the ratchet wheel 4, one pawl dipping overthe ratchet wheel while the other pawl is rotating the ratchet wheel,this result being accomplished owing to the eccentric relation of theheads 18 and 19 upon which the pawls 26 and 29 are respectively mountedfor swinging movement. When rotatory motion is imparted to the ratchetwheel 4 in the When the lever 12 and its attendant parts have thus beendisconnected from the body member 1, the lever itself may be employed asa wire stretcher. Under such. circumstances, apin 41 1s passed throughthe open- ;ing 28 in the ear 27 of the pawl 26, the inner extremityofthepin 41 engaging in the recess 80-which is fashioned in the inner face ofthe pawl 29. The pawls 2-9 and 26Iwill thus be held against relativemovement; A

single strand of wire denoted by the numeral 42 may be engaged betweenthe cam 31 of-the lever 29 and the shoulder 25 of the arm 15 of thelever. The free end of the pawl 29 may thenbe engaged with a fixedsupport, such as a fence post, the fence post acting as a fulcrum. Whenthe lever 12 is swung aroundthe fence post, the wire 42 will be drawntaut, the free end of the pawl 26 ultimately-coming into. contact withthe fence post and constituting a new fulcrum point for the lever 12.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a wirestretcher, a body member includin spaced arms; a ratchet wheel journaledfor rotation betweenthe arms; means connected with the ratchet wheel forreceiving a flexible element; the arms being provided in their forwardends with recesses opening at their outer ends toward the ratchet-wheel;a lever having bearing elements adapted to be'slid'into the open ends ofthe recesses; and a pawl carried by the lever and adapted to engage theratchet wheel.

2. In a device of the class described, a

body member; a ratchet wheel journaled for rotation thereon; means uponthe ratchet wheel for receiving a flexible element; a lever fulcrumedupon the body member and provided with eccentrically disposed heads;pawls carried by the heads and adapted to engage the ratchet wheel; aconnecting element projecting laterally from one pawl, there being arecess in the adjacent face of the other pawl, into which the connectingelement is adapted to move. 3. As an article of manufacture for use in awire stretcher, a lever provided with spaced arms, said arms beingprovided with eccentrically disposed heads; pawls mounted upon theheads, and a connecting element projecting laterally from one pawl, andadapted to engage in a recess formed in the adjacent face of the otherpawl.

t. As an article of manufacture, a lever for use in a wire stretcher,the lever having spaced arms provided upon their inner faces witheccentrically disposed heads, one arm being provided with an outstandingbearing stud and the other arm being movable and having an openingextended through its head; a pin extended through the opening andengaging the head of the other arm to maintain the movable arm againstmovementand to hold the heads in eccentric relation and to form alaterally projecting bearing; and pawls mounted to swing upon the heads.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FOREST GIBSON.

Witnesses:

SELMA WVILLsON, ERNEST F. RILEY.

Copies of this patent may be'obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C.

